Defiance
A Memoir of Awakening, Rebellion, and Survival in Syria
- Paperback
432 pages
- Release Date
24 February 2026
Summary
Loubna Mrie was raised a staunch Syrian Alawite, the same sect as then President Hafez al-Assad. Her mother’s father helped plan the coup that saw Hafez seize power in 1970 and bring the Alawites out of hiding and into a position of total control. Her father was intimately involved in Hafez’s government as an enforcer and assassin.
When the Arab Spring reached Syria in 2011, she attended a protest against his son Bashar’s government out of curiosity and her life changed forever. When …
Book Details
| ISBN-13: | 9780349013350 |
|---|---|
| ISBN-10: | 0349013357 |
| Author: | Loubna Mrie |
| Publisher: | Little, Brown Book Group |
| Imprint: | Virago Press Ltd |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Number of Pages: | 432 |
| Release Date: | 24 February 2026 |
| Weight: | 528g |
| Dimensions: | 234mm x 154mm x 36mm |
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Critics Review
Loubna Mrie’s story takes my breath away. Defiance is a nail-biting tale of astonishing courage, a coming-of-age story in which one woman risks everything to fight for what she believes – Jeannette Walls, No. 1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of THE GLASS CASTLE and HANG THE MOON
Loubna Mrie has written an anthem against patriarchy and authoritarianism everywhere. Mrie’s memoir, which couldn’t be more aptly titled, embodies a young woman’s contribution in the fight for freedom and for independence-both collective and individual. It is also a powerful account of surviving unfathomable losses-home, family, faith, love-and purposing the grief and rage that follows into action. This must-read debut shows us that revolutions start inside the home and that witnessing is the first line of resistance against oppression – Javier Zamora, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of SOLITO
Defiance is a profoundly moving meditation on the nature of rebellion and our indelible drive for freedom. Through the course of a beautiful, breathtaking narrative, Loubna Mrie comes to see her struggle against her abusive father and rigid gender structures as inseparable from the struggle against authoritarianism. Defiance is a modern coming-of-age story set in one of the most brutal wars on the planet, a truly affecting story of loss, redemption, and ultimately, hope. The book is an unforgettable chronicle of the spirit, one that will stay with you long after the final page – Anand Gopal, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of NO GOOD MEN AMONG THE LIVING
Defiance is a heartbreaking account of a young woman’s struggle for freedom against the rampaging forces of fanaticism and tyranny. It is also a literary triumph. Every page is marked by blood and tears. It’s unforgettable – Lawrence Wright, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of THE LOOMING TOWER and THE HUMAN SCALE
An amazing memoir – Sarah Jessica Parker
About The Author
Loubna Mrie
Loubna Mrie is a Syrian photographer, journalist, and writer. She covered the Syrian war as a photojournalist for Reuters from 2012 to 2014. She is a frequent commentator and researcher on Syrian and Middle Eastern affairs. She has been published in Time, the Washington Post, the New Republic, the Nation, Vice, and Al Jazeera, among other outlets.
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